Rotterdam in development

11 R O T T E R D A M I N D E V E L O P M E N T | 2 0 1 8 COHESION High-rise buildings play an important role in increasing density in the inner city, but tower blocks must be built with great care, Simons warns. That means: paying attention to the outdoor spaces. “Such as around Hotel New York: there’s a lovely grassy area there where people can sit and relax. High-rise construction must not create a concrete wasteland.” But that is not all. “The buildings have to coordinate with each other. The government can play an important role there, to prevent all these buildings from becoming isolated from each other. There must be a clear sense of cohesion. I think everyone is aware of the importance of that now.” Areas in the city from which Simons expects a great deal are Hart van Zuid, the development around the Zuidplein, and the area on the other side of the river in the Merwehaven-Vierhavens district, where an old harbour district will undergo a major transformation in the coming years. A lot of interesting developments are already taking shape: two of the three tall towers on the Marconiplein will be converted into apartments, and start-up businesses will congregate in the other tower. Housing forms part of the plans in that area, too. “The increase in the diversity of living environments is already under way,” the councillor confirms. He points to the various choices the residents of Rotterdam have about their style of living: from the tower blocks in the inner city, through the loft apartments in Katendrecht, to the family homes in Nesselande, the only residential neighbourhood with a city beach that attracts a lot of visitors in the summer. The councillor, who only recently took up the position, is not likely to make big policy changes. “We put things in motion every day; everything is going at its own pace. Everyone is working hard to improve the city even more. I get to enjoy that every single day.”